Instructions for Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Essential steps and symptoms to help you recover from a concussion or TBI

Instructions for Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

  • Steps to Follow Post-Concussion:
  • See your primary care physician first and if needed meet with a doctor trained in treating concussions if you find that your symptoms do not resolve within 4-6 weeks (see symptoms list).
  • Limit visual input. Wear sunglasses outside and indoors (Solar Shields or FL41 sunglasses to block sunlight, LED and fluorescent lights); Darkness is your friend.
  • Avoid TV and limit cell phone screen time.
  • Rest! Limit all physical activity. Some head injury patients need to sleep every few hours and this is okay.
  • Wear a baseball cap outside and in stores, at school, and in offices. Fluorescent lighting taxes your nervous system.
  • Wear musician's earplugs (Earasers, found online or at Guitar Center, work well for many people).
  • Stay home from work or school if needed.
  • Try to stay in a quiet, darkened room.
  • Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
  • Limit caffeine and alcohol, as they are brain irritants.
  • Eat more whole foods. Avoid processed foods, including most food additives (like MSG, gluten and excessive sugar).
  • DO NOT take aspirin or ibuprofen for pain relief. If you need pain relief, take acetaminophen (Tylenol) ONLY (aspirin and ibuprofen thin your blood, which can cause internal bleeding during the acute stages of brain injury).
  • If you injured the back or side of your head when you were hurt, also see a chiropractor or osteopath who is trained in concussions – not all of them are. The force that causes a TBI can also misalign your neck, which will prolong symptoms. A series of neck adjustments may expedite your healing.
  • If you have vestibular concerns, see a physical therapist trained in vestibular therapy.
  • Have an ophthalmologist check for retinal detachments and fractures or lacerations in the eyeball.
  • See a neuro-optometrist. You may be sensitive to light, have difficulty reading, have headaches while reading, have trouble tracking moving objects, see double images, or have difficulty driving. A neuro-optometrist can prescribe lenses that can ease your post-concussive symptoms and help stabilize your eyes during recovery.

  • What To Avoid after your Concussion
  • Work
  • School
  • TV
  • Computer
  • Exercise
  • Loud noises
  • Bright lights
  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • Aspirin or ibuprofen
  • Eating processed food
  • Reading

  • Common Symptoms Following a Concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Headache or "pressure" in head
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Balance problems or dizziness
  • Fatigue or feeling tired
  • Blurred vision
  • "Don't feel right"
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty remembering
  • Confusion
  • Drowsiness
  • Feeling sluggish
  • Feeling foggy
  • Irritability
  • Sadness
  • More emotional
  • Nervousness
  • Sensitivity to light or noise
  • Sleep disturbance

WHEN TO RETURN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM (ER) FOR REEVALUATION

Any of these symptoms could indicate internal bleeding and can be fatal if left untreated – they warrant immediate return to the ER!

  • Neck pain
  • Repeated vomiting
  • Increase in confusion
  • Unusual sleepiness
  • Seizures
  • Cannot recognize people or places
  • Increase in irritability
  • Weakness in arms or legs
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Severe or increasing headache
  • Pupils that are enlarged or unequal in size
  • Loss of consciousness (knocked out)
  • Drainage from the ears or blood from the nose